Hearing loss (hypoacusis) is highly prevalent among older adults, affecting approximately 33% of individuals aged 65 years and above. It primarily impairs communication and is associated with mental health conditions, dementia, and social impairment. Although various screening methods exist, they are not routinely implemented in general practice....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Primary care hearing loss screening for adults 65+ appears feasible in general practice settings; audiologists should anticipate potential increases in referral volume if such screening pathways are adopted and prepare care pathway protocols accordingly.
Embedding hearing loss screening in primary care could dramatically reduce the well-documented gap between hearing loss onset and first audiological intervention in older adults.
- 01Pilot study tested hearing loss screening in general practice (primary care) for adults aged 65+.
- 02Assessed feasibility, diagnostic accuracy, and care pathways following a positive screen.
- 03Age-related hearing loss is widely underdiagnosed; primary care could serve as an early detection gateway.
- 04Being a pilot study, sample size is likely small and results are preliminary.
- 05Published in Frontiers in Medicine (doi: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1872805).
Screening for age-related hearing loss in general practice is feasible for adults aged 65 and older.
studypartially supportedGeneral practice hearing loss screening has diagnostic value and leads to subsequent care pathways.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42558131
- DOI
- 10.3389/fmed.2026.1872805.
- Journal
- Frontiers in Medicine
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Adults aged 65 and older attending general practice (primary care)
- Intervention
- Hearing loss screening in general practice setting
Primary outcomes
Feasibility of hearing loss screening in general practice; Diagnostic value of the screening tool; Subsequent care pathways following positive screen